25 April 2014

UGANDA : FUBA League Set for Chaotic Start

The wait is over for the start of the 2014 top-flight basketball
league. But, ahead of tonight's kick-off between UCU Canons and
defending champions City Oilers, a sponsorship mix-up will deprive fans
of viewing the games at the Lugogo arena as well as live broadcasts on
NBS TV, writes Felix Eupal.
Recently, MTN Uganda refurbished and rebranded the Lugogo arena to
look all yellow from corner to corner. Lugogo is the home of basketball
and the arena looks better now but the move has also come at a cost.
The Observer has learnt that the telecommunication giant has a
ten-year branding contract, which still has six years left before it
runs out. Interestingly, the Fuba League is sponsored by the rival
Airtel Uganda, which ended MTN's stranglehold on the sport last year.
As things stand, local basketball body Fuba finds itself in a tight
situation because MTN holds the branding contract of the arena while
Airtel holds the game's rights. This catch-22 situation means Fuba can
only hold games at Lugogo if Airtel is not going to brand them but that
seems unlikely given the huge amounts Airtel sinks in the sport.
As a result, the games have been shifted to YMCA court in Wandegeya,
which pales by a mile in comparison to Lugogo. It hasn't helped matters
that NBS TV remains uncertain of their live broadcast sponsorship of big
games because YMCA open-air lighting does not meet the required
standards.
Other would-be sponsors are also said to be holding back because
until the arena branding issue is resolved. National Council of Sports
[NCS] is watching the controversy as a bystander.
Jasper Aligawesa, the NCS general secretary, said: "Fuba has the full support of NCS."
Yet, NCS is making it harder for Fuba to use the venue compared to
other sports. For instance, while disciplines like volleyball continue
to use the venue for Shs 200,000 per day, basketaball was last year
charged Shs 500,000 per day. That fee has been upped to Shs 800,000 this
year.
The Observer understands that talks are going on to try and find a
solution but it remains to be seen whether common sense will prevail.